Dr. Chris Charles

Abstract

I discuss two upcoming cross-disciplinary projects using the TRIUMF accelerator complex, and collaborations with SFU Chemistry. (A) The first project aims to study radiolytic chemical reactions in water samples mimicking the inorganic composition of the oldest known hypersaline brines on Earth (>2 Gyr at Kidd Mine, Timmins, ON). Mock water samples will be irradiated either by radioisotope aliquots pipetted into samples, or by accelerated alpha particles bombarding mock water samples up to 60 MeV. We study production, degradation, and possible fractionation mechanisms of organic molecules created from inorganic starting components by radiolysis, to better understand if/how more complex molecules relevant to the emergence or sustaining of life in deep isolated planetary/geological settings may occur over billion-year timescales, driven by natural U, Th decay.   (B) The second project aims to produce rare/exotic “radioactive molecules” from radioactive isotope beams by ion-gas chemical reactions inside a radiofrequency quadrupole reaction cell in-line with the TRIUMF accelerator systems. This room-temperature RFQ technique lies in contrast to a production of limited radioactive molecules inside hot-cavity target ion sources.  I discuss this project plan and relevance to producing and delivering rare on-demand radioactive molecules for upcoming long-term BSM physics experiments at TRIUMF.